A survivor of a Mugabe torture chamber recounts his ordeal.
(CNN Video)

(Newser)
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More than a dozen human rights activists and allies of Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai were tortured by agents of Robert Mugabe, a court heard yesterday. The New York Times reports that the activists were abducted, detained in secret prisons, and brutalized until they confessed to crimes they had not committed. Jestina Mukuko, a high-profile political prisoner, wept on the stand as she described her torture, which included beatings by drunk interrogators.

More than a dozen activists are on trial for crimes such as terrorism and sabotage, which Tsvangirai, speaking from Johannesburg, called "trumped-up charges." The arrests and torture came soon after Mugabe agreed to a power-sharing deal, although the Zimbabwean president still refuses to cede any authority. Mukoko's lawyer said that her client was trying to maintain a brave face in court, but "it’s like she’s no longer the same person they took away."

Ooops! Thanks, King! Recollecting, I cut and pasted forgot to remove the 'H' the followup...

Mr.C

Jan 16, 2009 1:28 AM CST

Sudan has oil - we don't help them either.

Newser001

Jan 16, 2009 1:07 AM CST

BTW, it's estimated 1.3 million people have been displaced in the Darfur conflict, so far... Again, George H.W. Bush (2001-2009) - Zimbabwe, May 2005 the government began Operation Murambatsvina. It was officially billed to rid urban areas of illegal structures, illegal business enterprises, and criminal activities. In practice its purpose was to punish political opponents. The UN estimates 700,000 people have been left without jobs or homes as a result. Families and traders, especially at the beginning of the operation, were often given no notice before police destroyed their homes and businesses. Others were able to salvage some possessions and building materials but often had nowhere to go, despite the government's statement that people should be returning to their rural homes. Thousands of families were left unprotected in the open in the middle of Zimbabwe's winter. The government interfered with non-governmental organization (NGO) efforts to provide emergency assistance to the displaced in many instances. Some families were removed to transit camps, where they had no shelter or cooking facilities and minimal food, supplies, and sanitary facilities. The operation continued into July 2005, when the government began a program to provide housing for the newly displaced. March 2008, in a national elections, Mugabe still claims victory, and to this date, refuses all multi-party government agreements, as promised. In the rural areas, they are terrorizing people and arresting them without charges. First, the government announced a ban on all political rallies. (Those who disregard the rally ban will face the wrath of law. Then the regime arrested a lawyer for Morgan Tsvangirai, the rival presidential candidate who has claimed victory in last month's national elections. In May, 2008 Zimbabwe violence reaches crisis levels. Those who refuse to commit violence are assaulted and accused of being MDC. August, 19, 2008, Zimbabwe inflation hits 11,200,000 percent.. January 16, 2009 - 1 US Dollar = 14,030,427 Zimbabwe Dollar or 1 Zimbabwe Dollar (ZWD) = 0.00000007 US Dollar (USD). Also, the United Nations says the death toll from Zimbabwe's cholera outbreak has risen to 2,201 and the epidemic is still not under control. The U.N. humanitarian office says 1,550 new cases are being reported every day. It says 41,986 people are now affected. The U.N. said Friday that many people are dying of the disease in their homes. Those making it to the impoverished country's depleted hospitals are faring somewhat better. Mugabe refuse to honor bilateral governmental agreements, nor accept defeat... Yet again, we do nothing... And as Laugh states bellow, there no economic reason for the US to do so... Perhaps, now that the US has a Black President, President Obama, Tuesday, January 20, 2009, we'll see movement... or not, on these matters.